General Assembly: Students' functional ability is part of overall security — opportunities for physical activity must be secured
The General Assembly of the Finnish Student Sports Federation (OLL) demands that the physical fitness of students is recognised as part of the overall national security and that the opportunities for higher education students to exercise are secured as part of the social structures. The lack of physical activity costs society billions every year, but its impact also extends to crisis resilience and national security.
"An active lifestyle is not just a matter of individual well-being. It is a matter of national security. Students' functional ability is part of a crisis-resistant Finland, and promoting it requires structural solutions, not just individual responsibility," says Martta Sopanen, the elected OLL President for 2026.
The physical fitness of higher education students is worryingly low. Almost half of all students do not get enough physical activity, while accruing up to 10.5 hours of sedentary time per day (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare 2024.) This situation threatens their ability to study, their mental health and their future ability to work — but also their ability to cope with exceptional circumstances.
Exercise is proven to be an effective way of preventing national diseases, strengthening mental resilience and maintaining functional capacity. Therefore, the General Assembly of the Finnish Student Sports Federation proposes that a new strategic task be added to the Security Strategy for Society: ensuring the physical fitness of the population. This is a task for all sectors and actors, including higher education institutions.
Opportunities for physical activity need to be integrated into students' everyday lives. The sports facilities of higher education institutions, exercise opportunities in the campus environment and the planning of students' everyday transitions are some of the key tools. Promoting physical activity must not be left to individual projects; it must become part of permanent funding and strategic management.
The Finnish Student Sports Federation highlights that the habits adopted during student years last long into the future. That is why supporting the physical activity of students is not only the morally right thing to do but also an investment in public health, work ability and overall security.
More information:
President 2026 Martta Sopanen, +358 46 945 6311
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Page last updated 6.11.2025